Another Defeat for the Devil

President Hugo Chavez easily won reelection in Venezuela. He dedicated his victory to Castro, calling him his father, while describing his victory as a defeat for the Devil...George Bush.

"It's another defeat for the devil, who tries to dominate the world," Chavez told the crowd of red-shirted supporters, who listened to him under pouring rain. "Down with imperialism. We need a new world."

A new world? Maybe one where Cindy Sheehan is considered sane and rational?

Using billions of oil dollars to bribe the electorate and stealing land for redistribution, Chavez received 61% of the vote to 38 percent for Rosales.
In his victory speech, he promised Venezuela with a more radical version of socialism and forge a wider front against the United States in Latin America.

Rosales, a cattle rancher who is now expected to return to his post of governor of the western state of Zulia, called the election a choice between freedom and increasing state control of people's lives. Rosales has charged that Chavez's government is corrupt and crime is rampant.

Since winning election in 1998, Chavez has increasingly consolidated power. His allies now control all branches of the government. He has packed the supreme court with his allies, and passed restrictive media laws under which journalists can be jailed for criticizing public authorities and institutions. Current law prohibits him from running for reelection in 2012 but he is already pushing constitutional changes that include an end to presidential term limits.

How long before he declares himself "President for Life"?

He has become a serious challenge to US policy. He has used his vast oil resources to influence elections in the region and has allied himself with countries such as Iran and Syria where he has become one of the most vocal supporters of Iran’s nuclear ambitions. He has gone so far as to provide training (language skills), money and documentation to aid Islamic terrorist to enter the United States across the Mexican border. In Columbia, he has provided weapons to Latin America’s deadliest terrorist organization, the FARC.

Are we just going to watch Democracy crumble in Latin America?